Recently, Mayor Scott Johnson and I were at a family function and
during our far too brief conversation he said something to the effect
that he enjoyed reading my weekly articles because he did not consider
himself to be an outdoorsman, and he learned from what I had to say.
For those of you who don't know the Mayor personally or who might oppose him politically, he is a very nice guy and a very decent and sincere human being. To me that's all that matters. I can disagree with anyone and anyone is welcome to disagree with me and that does not need to affect my acceptance of that person. Nor is the type or extent of his or her physical activity a qualifier of acceptance into my little world.
However, I think that the Mayor has cut himself short when he said to me that "I am not much of an outdoorsman." My problem is I don't know exactly what the definition of an outdoorsman is. I write, particularly at this time of year, about hunting. Is that what you must do to be considered an outdoorsman? I also write about my activities with the search and rescue team I belong to. Is that what a guy or gal must do to be considered an outdoorsman? We recently had house guests that are avid skiers - is that the qualifier?
How about hiking? Or mountain biking? Or camping? Or orienteering (got ya on that one, didn't I)? Or white-water rafting? Or how about just going for a walk outdoors holding the hand of your beautiful wife or one of those little people you might have running around the house? Is it any particular one of these activities? It certainly can't be all of them. I don't ski and I don't mountain bike, but I certainly consider myself as an outdoorsman.
No, Mr. Mayor, I think you have cut yourself a little short on your self-evaluation. I don't think it is so much the specific activity you might participate in nearly as much as it is the attitude and appreciation for the out-of-doors. The site of the natural beauty that surrounds us all no matter where we live, the color of the trees, the scent of the flowers, the thrill of seeing a wild animal cross our path - in my mind, any of these qualify just as much as rock climbing (which you will never catch me doing).
If you gain pleasure and enjoyment and can appreciate all of what my ole pal Mother Nature has provided for us free of charge, that's good enough for me. If you can be a good shepherd of those gifts that Ma has given us, again that is good enough for me.
And equally, if you can accept the participation of others in activities you might not choose, if you can tolerate my individuality and if you don't condemn my activities because you don't agree with what I do or the equipment I might use, then that's good enough for me. If you wish to hold the hand of your daughter and take a walk in the park or if you wish to carry a rifle and hunt deer, so long as you look upon and respect the other equally, then that by golly is good enough for me.
So, Mr. Mayor, how about we make a deal. How about we talk again soon about your self-definition as a participant in my world and I promise to open my mind a bit more to yours since I certainly don't consider myself a politician. I'll share your path of activities in hopes that you will equally and openly share in mine and that we provide each other with equal respect. Who knows what might happen? You might become a hunter and I might, God forbid, become a political outdoorsman. Just think of the heights we might achieve as we hike together in the wilds of Saratoga.
Let's just hope that when next we are together, it is for a more joyful event. May Grandma Rose rest in peace.
See you outdoors!
However, I think that the Mayor has cut himself short when he said to me that "I am not much of an outdoorsman." My problem is I don't know exactly what the definition of an outdoorsman is. I write, particularly at this time of year, about hunting. Is that what you must do to be considered an outdoorsman? I also write about my activities with the search and rescue team I belong to. Is that what a guy or gal must do to be considered an outdoorsman? We recently had house guests that are avid skiers - is that the qualifier?
How about hiking? Or mountain biking? Or camping? Or orienteering (got ya on that one, didn't I)? Or white-water rafting? Or how about just going for a walk outdoors holding the hand of your beautiful wife or one of those little people you might have running around the house? Is it any particular one of these activities? It certainly can't be all of them. I don't ski and I don't mountain bike, but I certainly consider myself as an outdoorsman.
No, Mr. Mayor, I think you have cut yourself a little short on your self-evaluation. I don't think it is so much the specific activity you might participate in nearly as much as it is the attitude and appreciation for the out-of-doors. The site of the natural beauty that surrounds us all no matter where we live, the color of the trees, the scent of the flowers, the thrill of seeing a wild animal cross our path - in my mind, any of these qualify just as much as rock climbing (which you will never catch me doing).
If you gain pleasure and enjoyment and can appreciate all of what my ole pal Mother Nature has provided for us free of charge, that's good enough for me. If you can be a good shepherd of those gifts that Ma has given us, again that is good enough for me.
And equally, if you can accept the participation of others in activities you might not choose, if you can tolerate my individuality and if you don't condemn my activities because you don't agree with what I do or the equipment I might use, then that's good enough for me. If you wish to hold the hand of your daughter and take a walk in the park or if you wish to carry a rifle and hunt deer, so long as you look upon and respect the other equally, then that by golly is good enough for me.
So, Mr. Mayor, how about we make a deal. How about we talk again soon about your self-definition as a participant in my world and I promise to open my mind a bit more to yours since I certainly don't consider myself a politician. I'll share your path of activities in hopes that you will equally and openly share in mine and that we provide each other with equal respect. Who knows what might happen? You might become a hunter and I might, God forbid, become a political outdoorsman. Just think of the heights we might achieve as we hike together in the wilds of Saratoga.
Let's just hope that when next we are together, it is for a more joyful event. May Grandma Rose rest in peace.
See you outdoors!
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